For Ladies and Home, and Those Who Want to Be

Saturday, April 27, 2013

On Anzac Day, someone graciously brought me some Anzac biscuits to help me observe the occasion. I sat outside with my tea on a table and watched several small airplanes from an air show fly over this little district. In the vase is a stem from a red flowering bush.

This is a beautiful bird in flocks around here on the ground and trees and bushes and are as common as crows. The galah has a color combination that I like. Hmmm...I wonder what I could find in the fabric store to match these colors?

I am enjoying the warm afternoon sun and the scent of trees, including eucalyptus.

I am here to help my siblings move my mother to a more convenient an modern place to suit her special health needs. Since it is too hard for me to remember the names of everyone I meet, I just call them "Cousin" and they say "G'day Cousin" back to me. When I was about 12 years old my 3 year old brother and I were outside by the creek. I offered to throw him across the creek so we would not have to take a long walk home. I miscalculated how far to throw him and dumped him in the middle of the creek. He was awfully wet and cold on the way home. He has never let me forget it. Today when he came to see Mother and me, I picked him up about a foot from the ground but was not able to throw him. Now he says I threw his back out. My back hurts too. I won't be picking up my baby brother again. I miss my pillows and my soft bed and my home and rellies across the Pacific, but it has certainly been a great comfort to have an ipad and use Skype to talk to them several times a day. It reduces any anxiety. It always seemed to me that people in previous decades were privileged in so many ways with discoveries and exploration and new lands and progress. God has given our era a lot of blessings too. We have this great communication technology that is so helpful. I cannot find the words to say my gratefulness for it. Homeschoolers can use this post in several ways: look up the birds, the gum trees, and Anzac Day and a recipe for Anzac biscuits. Also, find Somerville,Victoria on the map. Please be sure to send me emails!Lydia

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Bible contains many examples of people who went forward to do God's will in spite of attempts by others to stop them. Today we need to remember that in obeying the Lord, we need to keep our eyes on the goal of finishing the tasks he has given us

. If you are a wife, mother, homemaker or a grown daughter at home, you might think as long as you do what the Bible says, it is all going to be easy. However there is always some negative person lurking around trying to discourage you for doing what is right.

Staying home and minding your own business of the family might seem so simple that no one would even take note of it, and therefore, you will be left alone to do your work.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

I was in the grocery store today and discovered after the cashier had processed my groceries that I did not have my wallet with me. I asked him to leave my groceries there while I went home and got my wallet.

The lady standing next to me told the cashier to put my groceries on her bill. I told him not to and that I would just be back in 20 minutes or less. He took the side of the lady who wanted to pay for my groceries and so I walked out a free woman. I say that considering that I was also driving without a license ;-)

The employee is a man I've seen at the store for years and years and he said that many people come up "short" of money and someone behind them pays for it and will not tell their name or phone number or address. He said it had happened to him, too.

I walked with the lady out to the parking lot and found her car parked close to mine. She told me the same thing had happened to her a few days ago and she couldn't find her money. Someone next to her insisted on paying for her groceries. She still would not give me her name.

Being on the receiving end of generosity is not as comfortable to me as being on the giving-end, so I will certainly be alert to what is going on ahead of me at the grocery store, and looking for an opportunity to "repay" the favor by helping someone else.

Thank you for buying my groceries today. I always thought Americans were nice people and I've always felt blessed and spoiled to live here. I hope I can spoil other people, too. As Christians, we believe that giving is a blessing to others that brings more blessings on ourselves which we can continue to pass on to others:

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." 2 Corinthians 9:6

I remember one snowy winter that I had become very concerned about a tree that was blocking my view down the road where I had drive. After several close calls with logging trucks or farm machinery, I decided to cut the tree down. I thought it was on my property, but it turned out to be one of those marker-trees that a farmer puts on the corners of his property. Was the neighboring farmer ever angry when he saw that tree cut down. I did not know at the time that property lines were not exactly what they looked like; that tree really looked like it was on my property.

I was profusely apologetic and offered to plant a new tree but he declined. Eventually the old tree grew up again around the stump, and the branches once again blocked the road from view. I decided not to make a fuss about it this time. I was so glad that tree was still alive and had grown again. Apparently it was a tree planted in memory of the farmer's father, when his father died and passed the farm on to him.

On a very snowy winters day in the morning I saw 2 men with a chainsaw cutting down that tree, right out the front window.For a moment I thought maybe someone was deliberately vandalizing the neighbor's property and I thought how angry the farmer was going to be when he found that tree was once again, chopped down.

I closed the curtains and went to the kitchen for awhile, trying to mind my own business. When I came back to the front door, there was a big pile of firewood stacked on the porch. The farmer had cut the tree down so I could have a safer view of the road when driving out of my driveway. He and his son had then cut it into little logs and stacked it on my front porch, and left, without a word.

A Difficult Question

by George Goodwin Kilburn

There is a quiet organization called the Christian Relief Fund in Amarillo, Texas, that I have, in the past, participated in. Many preachers reported the dismal state of orphanages in various countries of the world. Desperate parents who wanted their children to have food and shelter would leave their children in orphans homes. Many of these children had at least one living parent. Through Christian Relief Fun, our family supported a handicapped girl who lived at home with her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother in the Ukraine. Each month, the local preacher would take the money that we and others sent, and personally distributed it to the families. This provided a way for the children to remain in the care of their mothers and fathers in dire circumstances, and also a chance for the local preacher to offer a Bible lesson and teach them the gospel. Through this, I was able to remain friends with the family for almost 20 years. The little girl is now grown and has been able to afford several surgeries to help her walk. It does not take a lot of American money to support someone like this. I still talk to the mother and her daughter on Skype and we have remained friends. I like this program because you can actually know the family of the child you are supporting, see inside their homes and learn more about them.

Many Americans support people in other parts of the world, in this way. Christians know that life is precious and will do what they can for the handicapped and the hungry. They in turn are greatly blessed at home because of these efforts.

I think of my father, a WW2 veteran, when I hear this song. How would Christians live without having the hope of "going home," through obedience to the gospel, to a reward beyond this perishable life. I have added this to the top of my playlist, which you see on the left sidebar.

Here is a song that was written to comfort the writer when his brother passed away. The lyrics on the screen say, "Enter heaven shouting, before the Father and the Son," but the actual word is "love for the Father and the Son."

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Colossians 1:5 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hopeof the gospel, which ye have heard... Colossians 1:23I have included these passages because they mention "the gospel," which is connected to many things. Here are just a few references to the word "gospel" among the many, many references in the New Testament:

The Kingdom - Matthew 9:35Preached to the poor - Matthew 11:5Requires repentance and belief - Mark 1:15Published - Mark 13:10Preached - Luke 21, Acts 8:25Defined as the death, burial and ressurection - I Corinthians 15:1-4There are only about two "sad" songs on my playlist, but even they are quite uplifting. Be sure to click the playlist on my sidebar, or go here to click it on and listen to all my favorites, and yours, too. They should all play automatically.

This cute plastic jar of buttons came from Walmart, and it comes in many different colors. The fabric swatches are some I bought at a garage sale from a travelling salesman who shows samples for orders, to fabric stores. These fabrics can also be found at Shabby Fabrics online. These are the sample pieces that were being sold, and I liked them because they were already all cut the same size.

I am showing two quilts I made, just to try out a pattern I found in an old quilt magazine. The sheep quilt is a technique called trapunto, (an Italian way of quilting) where I opened up the back of the appliqued sheep and inserted stuffing to make the sheep stand out. The insert is then sewn shut by hand and the entire back is covered with the backing fabric. Quilt batting (wadding) is inserted between the layers. As these quilts are showing some wear, I wanted to post a photograph for memory.

This was possibly my first quilt, using applique.

This is one of my first quilts, made X years ago. I hand stitched an outline around the birdhouse and the birds. Here is the outline from the back view.

Sunday, April 07, 2013

If you want to see more of his art, type in "George Goodwin Kilburne art" and click images. There are many sources online for his art.

The dress I was going to make is finished and you can see it on this post. You may want to check that post once in awhile for updates, as I'm in the process of sewing a pink jacket to match that dress.

Saturday, April 06, 2013

Sunday after church two lovely ladies who live in the caravan park took me to Sassafras in The Dandenongs for shopping and tea at Miss Marples.

This is Dreena, who has been so kind to me since I came, and has a special knack for sympathy. When I got back to an empty home after my Mother moved to her new place, Dreena cheerfully suggested a trip.

On the left is Linda, who also lives in one of those cute manufactured houses that I showed you when I first came here. We had a wonderful time visiting the shops while we waited for our seating at Miss Marples, and I think that these ladies were exceptionally happy to take a day off and come up to the mountain ranges to show off this part of Victoria to me. They both kept a very close eye on me and did not let me stray too far.

Dreena told me that people knit scarves while they are standing on the sidewalk in winter, and wrap them around the poles to keep them warm. I asked her why, and she said it was because the poles got cold in winter. I think she enjoys having me on.

They also have Christmas in July in Sassafrass since it snows up here in the mountains in winter.

Some mice yard sculpture sold in an oudoor area.

The tea room.

Next door to the tea room is a shop that sells any kind of teapot you can imagine, and every type of tea leaf, tea strainer, tea spoon and tea cup.

Click on for a larger view.

I neglected to take a photo of the sandwiches when they were first served.

The menu

The forest

The corner where we sat.

A koala teapot.

I would not have had as much of a holiday here if not for Dreena and Linda taking to Sassafras and also the other things we did together while I was here.

Most Often Requested Posts

Blog Roll

Translate

Contributors

Pinterest and Facebook

From time to time you might see pictures from this blog at Pinterest. I'm happy to share pictures and photographs if anyone finds something here worth sharing; when posted in a positive light, and in the uplifting spirit in which it is intended. Although I do not belong to any social networking sites, it is just fine with me if you want to post my articles on Facebook.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.Jeremiah 6:16

Welcome

" So far as this world knows or can vision, there is no attainment more desirable than the happy and contented home."

This is a Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 teaching blog, where you will find some ideas for creating the kind of home life that gives you a sense of well-being, creativity and accomplishment. It will help you understand the reasons for being the Biblical keepers of the home, as opposed to the world's answer of being career women outside of the home.

I really hope to help restore the culture of the home, which is a never-changing precept of the Bible: marriage, home and family. Young women especially need to know there is something else of greater importance than college and career, and that they play a vital role in making a stable family. In order to have strong marriages, respectful children, and good churches, women need to return to the home. My blog is based on the precept of First Timothy 5, verse 14:

"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully..."

These articles are designed to give the homemaker ideas for doing an excellent job in the home and for enjoying the role of homemaker and guide of the house. Marriage, the family and home life is splintered. Women must be allowed to return to the home.

For Previous Posts

Scroll down to the end of the last post on the page and click "older posts" to view previous posts. You can also scroll down to the last part of the sidebar and see the subjects in alphabetical order, and find the post you are looking for.

Homemaking Books

Victorian Respect

Pioneers

Memories of the Homestead

My Book About Growing Up in Alaskan Wilderness

Copyright

You are welcome to print out articles and photographs for your homemaking notebook. You can link to any articles I've written or put them on your site if you will contact me. Please do not put photographs of my family or me on any blogs or on the internet anywhere without my permission.

Historical

Blog Archive

The Queen's Ire

England's Queen Victoria wrote in 1870, "I am most anxious to enlist everyone who can speak or write to join in checking this mad, wicked folly of 'Women's Rights', with all its attendant horrors, on which her poor feeble sex is bent, forgetting every sense of womanly feelings and propriety. Feminists ought to get a good whipping. Were woman to 'unsex' themselves by claiming equality with men, they would become the most hateful, heathen and disgusting of beings, and would surely perish without male protection."-- Queen Victoria, 1870.

Don't Forget

Don't above all things, forget you are a woman; she is far more attractive when seen in the flowing draperies that centuries of use have made their own, than when masquerading as a man."--author unknown, written approximately 1850.

Home

"Why do women want to dress like men when they’re fortunate enough to be women? Why lose femininity, which is one of our greatest charms? We get more accomplished by being charming than we would be flaunting around in pants and smoking. I’m very fond of men. I think they are wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don’t want to look like one. When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error…" ~Tasha Tudor

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. ~Jane Austen

Home ought to be our clearinghouse, the place from which we go forth lessoned and disciplined, and ready for life. ~Kathleen Norris